1 Corinthians 7:27

Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife (KJV)

Then: Clear advice for those who are betrothed. What should the never-been-married, the about-to-be married, the long-term betrothed do? Keep the contract or break it? "Stay as you are," says Paul. What about members of a broken betrothal? Same thing. "Stay as you are." This verse is primarily addressed to men, but commentators believe the question originated from women's concerns as to their end-time freedoms and service. Another wrinkle came from Corinthian Christians who were influenced by ascetic beliefs. They believed no one should ever marry. Not an ascetic, Paul had to affirm his personal choice of celibacy, yet uphold the Lord's direction - "Be fruitful and multiply" (Fee, p. 323). Fee's explanation (p. 333) brings out the apostle's pastoral concerns. It is not a sin to marry, but life would be hard for the newly married. (See distress in previous verse).

Now: At first, Paul's advice does not seem useful to a world where marriage betrothals are no longer contracts between parents. Instead they are agreements between two responsible individuals. In actuality, it is very similar. If a fiancé accepts Christ, but the fiancée does not (or vice versa) both need to consider how that will affect the marriage. They would do well to wait until the other becomes a believer. Many become believers at a young age. What is the Lord's call on their lives? Will the two together be able to manage life's - distracting problems of survival - food, clothing, and shelter? The answers are individual, not universal. Paul's further question, "Will the Lord return in our time or is he delaying so that more have opportunity to know Truth?" also impacts the individual's call from the Lord. Maybe being single is the right choice, but for every youth and for some adults "Stay as you are" may not be his plan. Discovering what is right requires the use of judgement - as discussed under verse 7:25.

Extra source: The First Epistle to the Corinthians by Gordon D. Fee (Eerdman's 1987) online http://books.google.com/books?id=XlBp10nUTXAC&dq=Gordon+Fee+Bible+commentator&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=SwLNSu3nA4v6Mf2XlDo&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=12#v=onepage&q=&f=false